Tanning apparatus



May 17 c. J. GLASEL TANNING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16. 1919 a minimumperiod of time and with the 6X lated,

iatented May 17, 1927.

"CHARL S JonN 'GLASEL, 01? NEW YORK, N. Y.

TANNING APPARATUS.

Application filed September My invention relates to a method fortreating hides and skins by subjecting them to a series of successivesteps in a process of attaining a finished leather product duringpenditure of comparatively little labor and material therebysubstantially reducing the cost of production of the finished leather.

The lll'lPlOVGCl method or process of my invention consists essentiallyin the perform ance of a series of successivetreatments of the hide orskin involving the application of different liquid solutions theretowhereby the hides are softened and cleansed, depiplumped, tanned, fatliquored. bleached and dyed. In the performance of these various stepsin the process the hides are confined in a'containc'r and subjected tothe action of mec ia'nisin which works, stretches, smooths and relaxesthe hides in the presence of the liquid treating solutions. Thesedifferent solutions are applied to the hides and skins in successiveorder as the condition of the hides warrants, each solution beingremoved from the hides and container after it has performed itsfunction, and then the succeeding solution is applied. For this purposeI employ a tank or container and apparatus in'cludinga circulationsystem whereby the liquid solutions are each successively conveyed toand brought into contact with the hides in the container and thenwithdrawn from the container for sub sequent use.

Water is employed in the circulation sys tem when necessary for washingthe hides after any of the steps in the treatment. Means are providedfor uniformlyd'istributin'g the liquid solutions or concoctions to oneor both surfaces of the hides, and the utilization of my inventionpermits the employment of a great variety of treating solutions in theproduction of the leather product. 7

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of myinventi'on wherein one form apparatus isexemplified for carrying out the principles of my invention, but it willbe understood that various changes and alterations may be made in theillustrated apparatus and in the performance of my process, within "thescope of my claims without departing from the principles of myinvent-ion.

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a 16, 1919. Serial No.324,191.

container or tank, illustrating the hides therein, together withmechanism for work ng the hides, and the circulation system for applyingand withdrawing the liquid solutions used in the improved process. 7

Figure 2 is a detail vertical sectional View showing one of thesupporting and guiding frames for the working rollers.

Figure 3 is a view in sec'tionof one of the roller frames, parts beingbroken away for coi'iven-ience of illustration.

Figure 41- is a broken plan and sectional view showing the drivingrelation of the rollersof a pair.

Referring to the drawings wherein one eXe-mplification of the apparatusemployed is shown, the container 'or enclosure 1 is a tank of suitabledimensions provided with a removable top 2 and a vent device 3 in thetop. F or supplying the liquid solutions to this tank and to the hides Htherein a reservoir a is illustrated in an elevated position andprovided with a return pipe 5 and pump 6. The return pipe is connectedwith a draw-off pipe I having a discharge cock 8, and the draw-off pipe7-, which is located beneath the tank or container 1 is connected to an.outlet 9 from the bottom of the tank. Thus the liquid solutions in thetank may be pumped into the reservoir 4, and by means of the dischargeor test cock 8 the liquid solution may-be tested to ascertain thecondition thereof.

The hides H are supported or suspended within the tank preferably onholders or carriers ldwhicfh are made up of perforated bars supported insuitable manner from the tank, as by hangers 11, and these hollowperforated bars are connected by a feed pipe 12 with the reservoir 4.The liquid solutions fi'owby gravity from the reservoir through the feedpipe and are distributed between the folds of the hides by theperforated suspending bars 10, the folds forming a pocket as seen inFig. 2 for the solution as it drips or flows from the hollow perforatedbar.

lVhile beii'rg su'l'ajectcd to the treating solution the hides areworked, each one by a pair ofcompl'ementary rollers as 1?, l4, disposedhorizontally in the tank andadapted to reciprocate vertically with thefolds of,

the hide therebetween as indicated in Fig. 2. A suitable number of pairsof rollers is employed and they are rotatable ontheir shafts 15 and 16and each of these shafts has a sprocket wheel 17 thereon one of whichwheels is carried at the opposite ends of the shafts. The pairs ofrollers are reciprocated vertically from pair of vertically arrangedscrew bars as 18 and 18, one at each end of the tank, which areiprovidedwith reverse spiral threads that actuate the travelling nuts 19 on eachscrew bar. Each of these nuts has slotted bearing plate 20 for thejournal ends of'the pairs of roller shafts 15 and 16. The screw oars arejournaled in bearings attached to the inner faces of the end walls ofthe tank and at their upper ends a gear couple 21 is providedforrevolving the screw bars to reciprocate the travelling nuts. The gearcouples are driven from sprocket mechanisms 22 exterior of the tank andlocated at its ends, and these sprocket mechanisms are driven from themain shaft 23, supported from the outer face of the tank near its upperend, and revolved by pulley 2 L from a suitable source of power.

For guiding the pairs of working rollers in their reciprocal verticalmovement I utilize in connection with the sprockets 17 and shafts 15 and16 a number of hollow resilient frames as will be described.

The sprocket wheels 17 are carried in slides as 25 and 26 that co-actwith flanges 27 and 28 arranged vertically on the resilient guides,three of which are indicated in Figure 1 as 29, 30, 31, and these guidesare provided with resilient means as springs 31 shown in dotted lineswhereby the pres sure of the rollers 13 14c on the hides may be adaptedto the hides as the rollers work in their reciprocal movements.

The slides 25 and 26 move in the channels of the frames as the rollers13 and 1 1 reciprocate, and at the upper end the guide frames are spreadto guide the rollers away from the supporting bar 10. The lower ends ofthe frames are enlarged to guide the rollers away from the lower edgesof the folded hide as they pass downwardly, and to bring the rollersback to the hide for the initial upward movement.

To insure the proper rolling action of the complementary rollers 13 and1 1 on both their down and up strokes in contact with the hide, a pairof continuously moving endless sprocket chains 32 and 33 are employed.These chains are located at opposite ends of the vat or tank and passaround the hollow guide frames, between flanges 84, thereof. A slot 5-35is provided at the inner side of the hollow guide frame through whichthe sprocket 17 projects with its teeth in the path of movement of theflights of the endless chains, and the action, of these flights on thesprocket wheels insures that the rollers, in pairs, shall turn properlyto work the hide on both the down stroke and the up stroke of the pairof rollers.

The sprocket chains 32, 33 are driven by sprocket wheels 36 that arecarried by and operated with gear shafts 37 through which movement istransmitted to the screw bars.

In some instances for applying liquid solutions to the outer faces ofthe suspended or supported hides, a distributing pipe 38 having acontrol valve 39 may be supplied from the pipe 12, to spray the hides.

The pump 6 is operated from the main shaft 23 by sprocket connection 10.The apparatus here illustrated and described, it will be understood ismerely typical of many other means that may be employed in carrying outthe steps of my process. The proc- *ess consists substantially in aseries of successive applications of different liquid solutions, to thehides while suspended within the tank and on the bars 10, as requiredfor the production of a leather product, and in the removal of theexcess or used solutions before applying" another solution to the hidesfor a different purpose.

The apparatus heretofore described is used in carrying; out my process.The hides and skins are first relieved in suitable manner of allexcessive fat and flesh, the tail,

cars etc, and then the hides are attached to or supported on the bars 10and introduced to the tank where they are supported, as on the hangers11 and in position indicated in Fig. 2. When the hides are in properposition a circulation of water may be established through the hollowperforated supporting bar 10 and sprayingpipe 38 to distribute the waterover the hides. The working rollers 13 let are also operated and causedto travel with a resilient pressure over the hides to which the water isbeing applied, for the purpose of removing previously applied salt,blood, etc, and in this manner the hides are softened and cleansed. Thecirculation of water is maintained by the pump 6, until upon test, thedischarge of clear water through the test cock 8 indi cates a cleansedcondition of the hides. The collection of material secured by thiscleansing step may be disposed of in suitable manner. By the action ofthe rollers the hides are worked on both surfaces, compressed, andrelaxed while being; subjected to the water bath, as well as insubsequently applied baths of different treating solutions.

After the cleansing step the water used is withdrawn from thecirculation system and pre aration is made for depilation of the hideswhich latter remain in the tank on their supports.

In the depilation of the hides hair-root solvents at approximately F.are supplied to the circulation system and the hairs which are thusremoved are conveyed by the circulation system from the tank anddisposed of as desired. The liquid solution used in the depilation ofthe hides may include strong hydrates, sulphide of sodium solution,calcium solution, caesium, or arsenic Ill) cation of the preliminary't-em, may be purified and and evenlytanned.

The EElHRlDQQSOlHtlOIl used maybe comasses-s6 mixed with lime; 'T heliquidsolution thus used causes the epidermis to; d1sten'd and acts as asolvent for the removal of the hair ro'ot's. the hairs have beenremojvcdfrom the hides the latter are waslred by fiow of the llqiud-s'olutl'on,or bya flow or w ater, and the washing materialjconveys the hall andother materials irom the. tank proper distr bution. Inasmuch a heavy andthick hides require a longer periodol treatment for depilatlon than isrequlre'd ftor lighter grades of hides, he duration of thisdepilatorystep in the process may be varied to suit the existing conditions; p l-Liter the above indicatedwashing the hides as well as the interiorwallsiof tliejtauk are in a cleansed condition and the hides are nowready for} a preliminary tanning step in the process.

Excessive heat stored in the compound be removed through th'e ventingdevice 3 lor the jtop Qofthe container oritank may be removed forth spurpose.

. The hides are thus subjected toga ii applito both sides of th e hide's'.

In the second tanning-treatmen the grant:

surfaces of the hidesare subjected to a conc'entrated solution ofdissolved metallic 051- ides, atfa temperature and. density to suit thenature-of the coinpoun'chand dependent also upon the grade of the'leatlrer to be produced.

During the tanning step the tanning solution which is carried to anddischarged from the container in the circulation sysrenovated from timeto time, and replenished while the circulation is going on.

The tanning solution iscirculated through v the system until the hidetissuesare completely metamorphosed and enveloped with tannin, and aleather product is produced without any relative shrinking of the hidetissues and which product is very pliable pounds of metallic salts, suchas chrome KCr -(SOQ 1211 l or the like which are applied. lukewarm,

have great penetrating powers for entering the hides; Vegetableand'coniterous extracts are generally used with bulky lndesand designedto produce a product of weight These latter are applied at a lowertemperature than the chrome because of their lower penetrating powers.

When the hides are .suliicien-tly tanned, the: superfluous tannin,metallic salts, solvents or chrome liquorsare removed through thecirculation system, and excess moisture may be removed from the tank andhides by ventilating the tank, I I a p The hides arefnoW ready forcoloring,

tanning solution,

and a mord ant having threaten affi ity lated, s -engthened,-replenished, and used oycr 'andover agam,"a's required. After the aye" ad'er'ls'ity of about .2:

application of the mordant, itiswithdraivn vi I lfl supply or lul'rewarmwater containing two per cent .of oxalic ac d, the water bemg passed.through the c rculat on system the hides skins are washedjwith a andflowed'oventhe hi'des. and then vitli j idraw i. 7 The washed hides arenow rea for dyeing through" the applic extracts of, the coniferous,vegetable, and

to a ciesire'd nuance; Inthislstep of apply;

ingthe "dyes, consumption of the inordan't and dyes s decreased' andeconomy 18 in sured the even distribution the dyes over tl fs'ur I therequired quantity'ot-dye is absorbed by the hides, the excessmaterial-is recoi ered;

r v .1 5 .8 oring medium, which may consistof liquid I U I.-

il'll'lllll'QiOl numerous sulphur and acid dyes ace of the liides,; -andonly After the hides havebeen properly dyed,

the bulk of the coloring matter is .wit-h-' drawn, then the circulationsystem isutilized to furnish a supply of lukewarm. Water tothe hides toremove. excess coloring matter. Thehides are then dehydrated, as byheating and ventilatingrthe interior ofthe tank, during Wlllch time thepressure rollers are used to evacuate the excess material from thehldes.

fat-liquor is applied to the hides through the circulation system, andcomprises a liquid In the next step' 'of fatiliquoring or, im-

pregnating'the hides with fats and' oils, the

solution of 50% sulphonated oil mixed with refined linseed 1, oil.

from sulphuricJacid,' except in the manufactureof sole'leather'andbelting leather wherethere can be a trace of acid present. A solutionComposed of pure sulphonated oil, with 10 parts of 'g elatine; 20 parts'of degras; 2 to v5 parts of talcum; and water,

fleshside of the colored stock. After the proper duration of time thefat liquor is removed by-the circulation, system, and the hides aredried byyent-ilating the tank.

The hides may be bleached inthe process, and ,the' bleaching may beaccomplished through the circulation system. The bleaching agent usedmay be a liquid solution com.-

The sulphonated oil used on the color stock must be "entirely free ,isalso applied by the brush rollers to the solution from the container,and venting the wm mw V j posed of at pounds sal soda to 100 gallons ofWater at 95 F., 5 pounds oxalic acid solution and one pint of commercialhydro- "tluoric acid. After the hides have been subjected to thisbleaching solution, the latter is Withdrawn, the tank is ventilated, andthe hides are removed as a finished product.

Thus While contained and supported in the tank the hides have beensubjected to successive steps in the process of treatment, Withoutnecessity for handling, and Without the use of machinery except theWorking rollers Within the tank.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. The step in the art of treating foldedhides which consists in supporting the hides in -a container, separatelyinjecting a liquid solution onto the inner sides of the folded vhideandthe outer sides of the folded hide,

Working thehide by mechanical action in the presenceot the solution, andWithdrawing the liquid solution from the container.

2. Thc'm'ethod of tanning folded hides in a closed container whichconsists in. supporting the hides in the container, ejecting a liquidsolution on the inner and outer sides of the hides Within the containerWorking the hides by mechanical action,-ejecting the container to'remove excess moisture there from.

3. The method of treating folded hides within a container WlllChconsists in subjecting the inner and outer sides of the hides to arequired amount of different treating materials in a series ofsuccessively applied liquid solutions to soften, clean, depilate, plumpand tan the hides, mechanically working the hides, in the presence ofthe solutions and then drylng'the hides to Withina container whichconsists in subjecting the vinner and vouter sides of the hides to aminimum amount of media ina series of successively applied solutions asWill be absorbed by the hides for tanning the same,

mechanically Working the hides in the presence of the.med1a,-andseparately Withdrawinc; said solutions, and finally drying the hides. i1 i In testimony Whereot,he has signed his name to this specificationthis 15th day of September, 1919. 7

CHARLES JOHN GLASELQ

